Page 39 of Scarlett's Mountain Man
“And that’s when you called me,” Daddy gently finishes for me, realization coming across his face.
I nod. “I had Juniper, and he had to leave for some work thing. I was taking a gamble, asking the nurse to help me leave, but she helped. Drove me to my house and got Juniper safely in the car before giving me some extra cash and leaving. It wasn’t until the late afternoon, which is why I got here in the dark.”
It was one of the scariest times of my life, leaving him. He has men everywhere, and I had no idea if any of the nurses were reporting to some of them. But I had to try. It worked out, and Juniper and I are safe.
Or we were.
I don’t know about now. He found us.
“Who is he?” Daddy asks.
“Harold Jones. I don’t know what he does or who he is involved with, but that’s his name. Or the name he gave me,” I murmur at the end.
Who’s to say he didn’t give me fake names?
“Shit, Harold Jones?” Brix asks.
I look at him and nod. “Yeah, that’s his name.”
“Is he gone sometimes for a couple of days to a week? Does he come home some days with injuries?” Elijah asks.
I nod again. “I know he’s involved in something dangerous. I just don’t know what it is. He always made sure not to talk about anything in front of me.”
Daddy has gone silent, and I look over at him. He is staring at me with an expression I don’t know. Is he regretting taking me in now? Does he want to let me and Juniper go?
“He’s in the mob, right?” Elijah asks.
Daddy nods. “He is.”
My face goes pale. I knew something wasn’t right. How could I have been so dumb to get with someone who is in the mob?
Harold was so charming, though. He knew all the right things to say and do, and I didn’t question any of it. Not until he moved me in did things slowly start to change.
“I think I should leave,” I whisper, standing up. “Thank you for helping me recover. Tell Aiden that I’m grateful he was here to help me and your sister.”
I don’t make it even a step before strong arms band around my waist, pulling me onto a lap. I yelp as my face turns to see Daddy is the one holding me.
“I didn’t say you could go,” he growls.
“You didn’t say you wanted me to stay either,” I point out. “I didn’t know he was in the mob. I’ll just leave so you don’t have to deal with this. It’s not your problem.”
But everything inside of me wants Daddy to fight for me and tell me to stay. I don’t want to leave him or this lodge. I want to live here for the rest of my life, growing old with him and raising our children.
“You aren’t going anywhere. I told you that you are mine and I am yours. That Juniper is ours. That means I am going to protect you and make sure nothing happens to either one of you,” Daddy firmly says.
“But he’s part of the mob,” I whisper.
“So?”
I gape at him. “So?”
He nods.
“So, he is dangerous! He could tell his boss or whoever that you took me away, kidnapped me, and they could all come for you. They could kill you all!” I raise my voice. “How can you not see that? I don’t want you to die.”
My heart thumps as I stare at him, waiting for him to say something, anything.
“I have friends in the mafia in New York,” Daddy calmly explains. “We’re great friends. They’ll happily come down and take care of this.”
